MY daily reflection and prayer:
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Twenty-nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to Luke 12:49-53
Jesus says, “I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
***
READING the Gospel today we may shock for Jesus declares that he came to cast fire and cause division rather than peace upon the earth. What does he mean? What kind of fire does Jesus have in mind?
In the bible, the image of fire is often associated with God himself. It also describes his action in the world and in the lives of his people.
In the Old Testament Scriptures, there are so many examples, God manifested his presence by use of fire. God revealed himself to Moses through the burning bush in the wilderness which was not consumed by the flames (Exodus 3:2). God also assured his people of his continual presence, guidance, and protection for them through the wilderness for forty years with the pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day (Exodus 13:21-22).
The image of fire revealed God’s presence when the prophet Elijah called down fire from heaven to reveal God’s power and to purify the people of false idols (1 Kings 18:36-39). The image of fire was also used as a sign of God’s glory (Ezekiel 1:4, 13) and holiness (Deuteronomy 4:24), his protective presence (2 Kings 6:17), and his righteous judgment (Zechariah 13:9) and holy wrath against sin (Isaiah 66:15-16).
In the New Testament Scriptures, fire is a sign and symbol of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. St. John the Baptist said that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11-12 and Luke 3:16-17). The Holy Spirit was poured out upon the disciples at Pentecost as “tongues of fire” appeared above their heads (Acts 2:3).
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist we worship Jesus Christ who will cast the fire to purify our lives from sin. We ask that we are able to be true disciples who love God above all else.
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, you offer true freedom to those who believe in you. May the fire of your love consume us and transform our lives that we may truly desire nothing more than life with you now and forever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
